What do you think of the cops, and criminal justice system in general, where you live?

Question

Here the police go around giving out jaywalking tickets; 'smoking too close to a business' tickets, etc. Yet there are crack and meth houses right on my block--that generate a huge amount of traffic--and they do nothing.

Here, the criminal justice system is looking for money. Fines galore; for things you wouldn't give a second thought to. People who haven't done anything really wrong are sent to prison--simply because they can't pay the fines.

I was always taught that the policeman is your friend--not so, not when they are just looking for the worst in people--and usually lean toward those who are law-abiding citizens.

VermilionPhoenix--I am the most law-abiding citizen I know--I do NOT associate with trouble-makers at all.

CGIV76--At the 'few and far between' police stations here (it's like, don't call us, we'll call you...), one only gets to see a receptionist--and needs to show him/her their ID through a window in the bullet-proof glass.

It's not just 'my block'--it's everywhere in town--even in the newest (and richest) sections.

slimthing--No, I don't live in LA--or in CA, at all. The NY police were nice, generally speaking--not like in the Northwest and Southwest.

Answer 1

I'll get shot at by some Officers for this, but it seems like you have a very young police force? No? Rookie's will always go for the easiest pinches since they are too young and inexperienced to do any "real police" work. Another problem is that your departments management may not be recognizing their officers when they do make a good solid felony pinch, so they figure "what the hell am I killing myself for?" Add to that mix; the Defense Lawyers and Libby Judges that will throw out a good case on some stupid technicality anyway and you end up with a department that tackles traffic and jaywalking crimes because they are easy to deal with, write the ticket and you're done. (Most of the time) One more thing, check your departments pay scale and let me know how they fare with surrounding departments, if you-the taxpayer, are underscoring the pay rate at your department, you are going to end up with all rookies looking to break into Law Enforcement as a career, so you-the taxpayer, will get exactly what you are paying for, a VERY NEW and inexperienced public employee. Not saying all rookies are bad, just saying they do the job mostly by the book because they are still learning how much discretion they are allowed to have, always using the book is not a bad thing, but usually, It's not a good thing either. Now watch all the Rookies yell! LOL!

Answer 2

It's all media. When we see blacks in the media they are portrayed as gang members and drug dealers (and as being proud for being such things). Also a story like Treyvon Martins makes for good tv. Call me an a*shole but it's true. If the other guy was black and Treyvon white, it would have been on local news and that's it. The media loves to blow thing way out of proportion for viewing sakes. I'm not saying if it was the other way around no one would have cared, I'm just saying it wouldn't have been national news. Why? Media loves to play up a racist angle. So if a story has the potential for a racist angle, it's going to be strewn across every form of media possible for as long as it can milk it. Media influences some cops to think every black male wearing a hoodie or bandana is a murderer. Moral of the story, f*ck media.

Answer 3

I too was taught that if you are ever in trouble to go to a policeman (or women)
I live in Las Vegas.I have never been in any sort of trouble(52 years old and only 2 minor traffic tickets inover 35 years of driving).Anyways it was a hot summer night last year and my son called me up and said his cars engine blew up on the freeway. Being a mom of course is went to save him.We had just bought a second car and it had some over heating problem and so my husband left it at home until he had time to fix it. I took the car hoping for the best to pick up my son, it was a short ride fromhome. Dumb me, I took a wrong turn and wound up in a bad part of town and the cars overheating light came on. My son's Korean girlfriend was with me.It was dark and we parked the car in a lot so that it could cool down before I added some water to it. There was a gas station nearby with 2 police cruisers in the lot. We went to get some water and went up to the police to ask them to please keep an eye on us because we were lost and waiting for our car to cool down. All they said was'"yea, this is a bad neighborhood" and they drove away and left us standing on a dark street.
We were both so afaird that we sat for almost i hour in the car with hammers and screw drivers in our hands in case anyone bothered us.We went home and my son just walked off of the freeway since no police came by to help him either.
I was so disappointed in the Las Vegas Police Dept.

Answer 4

I had a very scary incident once. It was around 1 am when the sound of about 4 guns shots woke me up. It sounded as if they were shot about 2 houses down from mine. My brother also woke up and came to my room to ask if i heard them as well. Then we heard someone run through our back yard and we heard a loud noise like if someone jumped our fence or something. Then we heard more gun shots. I dialed 911 the operator was VERY rude! I explained the situation to her and she said she couldnt send anyone because it was a "busy" night. She said that dialing 911 was for emergencies only and that i shouldnt be calling them for that. WTF!!!? What is a girl supposed to do at 1am when she hears gun shots and hears someone in her back yard? I mean, sure they could have just been running away , but they also could have broken into my house and done god knows what! After that i called the police department and they said they would send someone to check it out. We waited for 2 hours and no one showed up.


Im glad i have met respectfull and honest cops, but ive also met rude ones when they didnt even have to be..

Answer 5

I respect all of them, and in return they've always been really nice and polite. Cops that I've met anywhere have always been just really good people... Show them respect, they do the same for you. If you have problems with the police, start obeying the law and not associating with people that are troublemakers.

Answer 6

Looks like you live on the wrong block. Since you had time to type this question, why don't you take a walk to the Police station, and actually find out what else the Police are doing. Deep down inside, I know you know better.

Answer 7

i take it you live in la. well people in general always seem to have a love hate relationship with the cops. what can i say about the nypd...*thinking*

Answer 8

they make Barney Fife look like a genius

Answer 9

for the most part corrupt from top to bottom